Participants Needed for Colorectal Cancer Focus Group
Residents of Montgomery County are invited to participate in a focus group about colorectal cancer sponsored by Simmons Cancer Institute (SCI) at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. The event will take place at 6 p.m. on Thursday, November 17, at the United Methodist Church, 537 Rountree St., in Hillsboro.
Sabha Ganai, MD, PhD, assistant professor at SIU School of Medicine and director of gastrointestinal oncology, is conducting a study of community perspectives of colorectal cancer. Montgomery County, as well as several other groups throughout central and southern Illinois, are being asked to participate in this study.
Montgomery County residents who are at least 18 years old are invited to participate in the event. Approximately 15 individuals are needed. The focus group members will be asked a variety of questions regarding their understanding and opinions on colorectal cancer, the screening that is available to detect colorectal cancer, and treatment for the disease. Information discussed in the focus groups is confidential.
Prior to the start of the program, participants will be asked to give consent for participation and complete a brief demographic questionnaire. The group session is expected to last 90 minutes. The one-time session will be audio recorded and transcribed, however participant identity will not be revealed, and no identifiable information will be reported from the group. Refreshments will be provided for participants.
“The goal is to gather information and to understand what the community comprehends about colorectal cancer,” said Ganai.
“There is no homework or required reading to prepare for the group. We just want to know what the community understands about colorectal cancer,” she added. “Following this group event we hope to have two or three of the group participants agree to sit on a community advisory committee for future programs involving colorectal cancer studies, education and screening.”
Contact Pat Cailey at 217-556-1065 or Shelly Halleman at 217-412-8598 to sign up for the focus group.
